Mpox: Current situation
The HSE has detected one imported case of clade I mpox. The Irish resident had recently returned to Ireland following travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where mpox is circulating in the community. The individual is now receiving specialist care in a hospital in Dublin. The risk to the Irish public remains low.
Small numbers of sporadic imported cases of clade I may occur among travellers arriving from places in Africa where cases are regularly being reported in the community. In a small proportion of these imported cases, mpox spread to close contacts e.g., to members of their household, but not to the wider community.
For information on countries where cases are occurring see clade I mpox affected countries (Source: UKHSA).
For information on global trends in mpox see WHO Global mpox trends and the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report.
HSE National Health Protection are monitoring the situation in Ireland, UK and internationally.
The public are asked to follow Public Health advice, particularly if travelling to or from a country in Africa where mpox cases are occurring.
Travel Advice
To protect yourself and others against mpox, know the signs and symptoms of mpox, how the virus spreads, what to do if you get sick, and the risk of mpox infection in the area that you are planning to travel to. Information on countries affected by mpox is available from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mpox needs close or intimate contact to spread, so casual (passing) contact like you might have during travel is not likely to cause infection. If the virus is spreading in the area that you are travelling to, have open conversations with those you come into close contact with about any symptoms they may have.
People can protect themselves by:
- Avoiding close contact (including sexual contact) with people who are sick with signs and symptoms of mpox, including those with a rash (blisters or scabs)
- Avoiding contact with wild animals (alive or dead and including their meat and blood) in areas where mpox regularly occurs. Any food containing animal parts or meat should be cooked thoroughly before eating
- Avoiding contact with contaminated materials used by people who are sick (such as clothing, bedding, towels etc.) or that had been in contact with wild animals
- Washing hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 70% alcohol.
If you think you might have mpox when you are abroad, seek medical advice as soon as possible, and isolate from others until you have been checked and tested. If you have mpox, you should isolate yourself from others until all your lesions have crusted over, the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed underneath.
When you return from travel
As symptoms of mpox may take time to develop, in the 21 days after leaving the affected country, if you have any mpox symptoms, self-isolate and phone your doctor promptly, telling them about your recent travel, so that you can be assessed.
Mpox in 2024
On 14th August 2024, WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern. There has been a recent upsurge in the number of mpox cases identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries.
There are two different types of the mpox virus – called clade I and clade II. Each clade of the virus has subclades; these are clade Ia, clade Ib, clade IIa and clade IIb.
The type of mpox that is causing concern in Africa is caused by clade I mpox, both clade Ia and Ib.
This is different to clade IIb which caused the global outbreak in 2022-2023, mainly affecting gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
Situation in Ireland
One case of clade I has been detected in Ireland.
Cases of clade IIb mpox in Ireland remain low, with 8 cases reported to date in 2025. There were 25 cases of mpox confirmed in Ireland in 2024, 13 cases in 2023 and 227 cases in 2022.
Situation in Europe
ECDC states that imported mpox cases due to clade I mpox are likely to occur in the EU/EEA. The overall risk for the EU/EEA general population is currently assessed as low, though the risk for people who have close contact with a confirmed or suspected case from affected areas in Africa is moderate.
Ireland continues to work with the ECDC and international partners and continues to prepare the healthcare system so that we can rapidly identify and manage any potential imported cases and prevent secondary transmission.
About mpox
Mpox is an uncommon infection that is caused by the mpox virus.
Mpox spreads through close contact, including contact with the skin rash of someone with mpox. People who closely interact with someone who is infectious are at greater risk for infection: this includes sexual partners, household members, and health & care workers. Mpox may also spread from animals to people in areas where infected animals are found.
For symptoms and signs of mpox and advice on what to do if you think you have mpox, please see https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/mpox/